flexiblefullpage -
billboard - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
catfish1 - bottom
Currently Reading

Fifth tallest tower in the world opens in Seoul with the world’s highest glass-bottomed observation deck

High-rise Construction

Fifth tallest tower in the world opens in Seoul with the world’s highest glass-bottomed observation deck

Lotte World Tower’s glass-bottomed observation deck allows visitors to stand 1,640 feet above ground and look straight down.


By David Malone, Associate Editor | April 4, 2017

Pixabay Public Domain

Not long after the world’s fourth tallest tower in the world became official, Lotte World Tower in Seoul, South Korea has officially opened to become the world’s fifth tallest tower. 

The tower, which comprises office space, residential units, and a seven-star hotel, rises 123 stories to a height of 1,819 feet. In addition to being the fifth tallest building in the world, Lotte World Tower also boasts a few other significant titles related to its height.

At a height of 1,640 feet, Lotte World Tower’s glass-bottomed observation deck is the highest in the world. Located on the 118th floor, the observation deck allows visitors to look straight down at a busy intersection located a half a kilometer below their feet. 

Another height related accolade comes via the swimming pool on the 85th floor, which is recognized as the world’s highest swimming pool. Finally, the building’s elevator, which can take people from the ground floor to the top of the building in just one minute, carries the title of world’s fastest elevator.

Lotte World Tower is the tallest building in South Korea, surpassing Northeast Asia Trade Tower by over 800 feet.

The building, developed by Lotte Engineering and Construction, cost about $3.6 billion to build and was designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox. Leslie E. Robertson Associates was the structural engineer for the project.

Related Stories

Contractors | Jul 23, 2021

The aggressive growth of Salas O'Brien, with CEO Darin Anderson

Engineering firm Salas O'Brien has made multiple acquisitions over the past two years to achieve its Be Local Everywhere business model. In this exclusive interview for HorizonTV, BD+C's John Caulfield sits down with the firm's Chairman and CEO, Darin Anderson, to discuss its business model.

Hotel Facilities | Jul 20, 2021

A new Times Square hotel positions itself as a resort

Margaritaville Resort arrives as New York City considers creating entertainment districts.

Resiliency | Jun 24, 2021

Oceanographer John Englander talks resiliency and buildings [new on HorizonTV]

New on HorizonTV, oceanographer John Englander discusses his latest book, which warns that, regardless of resilience efforts, sea levels will rise by meters in the coming decades. Adaptation, he says, is the key to future building design and construction.

Hotel Facilities | Jun 18, 2021

Adaptive reuse for hospitality, with Frank Cretella of Landmark Developers

In an exclusive interview for HorizonTV, Landmark Developers' President Frank Cretella talks about the firm's adaptive reuse projects for the hospitality sector. Cretella outlines his company's keys to success in hospitality development, including finding unique properties and creating memorable spaces.

Mixed-Use | Jun 17, 2021

London’s former Old War Office building set to become hotel and residences

The building had been closed to the public for over a century.

Hotel Facilities | May 26, 2021

Loisium Wine and Spa Resort expansion opens in Langenlois, Austria

Steven Holl Architects designed both the expansion and the original resort with associate architects Sam-Ott-Reinisch.

Digital Twin | May 24, 2021

Digital twin’s value propositions for the built environment, explained

Ernst & Young’s white paper makes its cases for the technology’s myriad benefits.

Market Data | Apr 30, 2021

New York City market continues to lead the U.S. Construction Pipeline

New York City has the greatest number of projects under construction with 110 projects/19,457 rooms.

Market Data | Apr 29, 2021

U.S. Hotel Construction pipeline beings 2021 with 4,967 projects/622,218 rooms at Q1 close

Although hotel development may still be tepid in Q1, continued government support and the extension of programs has aided many businesses to get back on their feet as more and more are working to re-staff and re-open.

boombox1 - default
boombox2 -
native1 -

More In Category




Giants 400

Top 80 Hotel Construction Firms for 2023

Suffolk Construction, STO Building Group, PCL Construction Enterprises, AECOM, and Brasfield & Gorrie top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest hotel and resort general contractors and construction management (CM) firms for 2023, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report.

halfpage1 -

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021